Exploring the photocatalytic total oxidation of methane through the lens of a prospective LCA

Johannisson, Jonas; Hiete, Michael

doi:10.1016/j.aeaoa.2022.100190

Cited by 3 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…Due to the high uncertainty of economic and environmental feasibility in methane treatment, it is suggested that any emerging technologies should weigh their own life cycle assessment (LCA) costs against the potential climate benefits. Very recently, a prospective LCA of photocatalytic methane total oxidation to CO 2 was proposed, claiming that a self-sufficient photocatalytic module can amortize the produced GHG emissions within 1.5 years under the best-case scenario in 2050, and the future feasibility of this system is investigated . Through LCA analyses, this limited but prospective work provides guidance for the future development of photocatalytic low concentration methane oxidation researches.…”

Section: Application Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Very recently, a prospective LCA of photocatalytic methane total oxidation to CO 2 was proposed, claiming that a self-sufficient photocatalytic module can amortize the produced GHG emissions within 1.5 years under the bestcase scenario in 2050, and the future feasibility of this system is investigated. 152 Through LCA analyses, this limited but prospective work provides guidance for the future development of photocatalytic low concentration methane oxidation researches.…”

Section: Emitted Methane Total Oxidation For Climate Mitigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Photocatalytic Conversion of Methane: Current State of the Art, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Liu

Jiang

et al. 2023

ACS Environ. Au

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With 28−34 times the greenhouse effect of CO 2 over a 100-year period, methane is regarded as the second largest contributor to global warming. Reducing methane emissions is a necessary measure to limit global warming to below 1.5 °C. Photocatalytic conversion of methane is a promising approach to alleviate the atmospheric methane concentrations due to its low energy consumption and environmentally friendly characteristics. Meanwhile, this conversion process can produce valuable chemicals and liquid fuels such as CH 3 OH, CH 3 CH 2 OH, C 2 H 6 , and C 2 H 4 , cutting down the dependence of chemical production on crude oil. However, the development of photocatalysts with a high methane conversion efficiency and product selectivity remains challenging. In this review, we overview recent advances in semiconductor-based photocatalysts for methane conversion and present catalyst design strategies, including morphology control, heteroatom doping, facet engineering, and cocatalysts modification. To gain a comprehensive understanding of photocatalytic methane conversion, the conversion pathways and mechanisms in these systems are analyzed in detail. Moreover, the role of electron scavengers in methane conversion performance is briefly discussed. Subsequently, we summarize the anthropogenic methane emission scenarios on earth and discuss the application potential of photocatalytic methane conversion. Finally, challenges and future directions for photocatalytic methane conversion are presented.

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Section: Application Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Emitted Methane Total Oxidation For Climate Mitigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photocatalytic Conversion of Methane: Current State of the Art, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Liu

Jiang

et al. 2023

ACS Environ. Au

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“…Air flows, CH 4 removal rates, and costs have been modeled in detail for solar updraft towers with photocatalytic active phases [21,22]. The lifecycle CH 4 removal of a passive solar photocatalytic device has also been modeled previously [23]. The overall economic feasibility of 2 ppm CH 4 removal via fan-driven machines has been questioned based on the empirical trend that separation costs often rise linearly with target substance dilution [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Photocatalysts are appealing because of their ability to decompose CH 4 and N 2 O under ambient conditions and their potential for cheap and scalable deployment [23][24][25]. They can also degrade local air pollutants, especially volatile organic compounds, meaning that CH 4 or N 2 O removal systems might have health co-benefits for local people if deployed in areas with poor air quality [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cost modeling of photocatalytic decomposition of atmospheric methane and nitrous oxide

Randall,

Jackson,

Majumdar

2024

Environ. Res. Lett.

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The photocatalytic decomposition of atmospheric methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) could be valuable tools for mitigating climate change; however, to date, few photocatalyst deployment strategies have had their costs modeled. Here, we construct basic cost models of three photocatalytic CH4 and N2O decomposition systems: 1) a ground-based solar system with natural airflow over photocatalyst-painted rooftops, 2) a ground-based LED-lit system with fan-driven airflow, and 3) an aerosol-based solar system on solid particles dispersed in the atmosphere. Each model takes as inputs the photocatalyst’s apparent quantum yield (AQY; a measure of how efficiently photons drive a desired chemical reaction) and the local CH4 or N2O concentration. Each model calculates an overall rate of greenhouse gas drawdown and returns a levelized cost of greenhouse gas removal per equivalent ton of carbon dioxide (tCO2e). Based on prior studies of atmospheric carbon dioxide removal, we adopt $100/tCO2e as a target cost.We estimate that painting rooftops with photocatalysts might meet the target cost for decomposition of >10ppm CH4 with catalyst AQYs >4%. If painting and cleaning costs were reduced by a factor of ~3 from our scenario, removal of ambient CH4 could meet the cost target with AQYs >1% and removal of ambient N2O could do so with AQYs >0.1%. Fan-driven systems with LED illumination appear to be very challenging, achieving removal costs <$100/tCO2e only for AQYs of >10% for CH4 and >1% for N2O. Dispersing photocatalytic aerosols in the troposphere could be cost-effective with AQYs of >0.4% for ambient CH4 or >0.04% for ambient N2O. However, the mass of aerosols required is large and their side effects and social acceptability are uncertain. We note that, for any system, AQYs on the order of 1% will likely be extremely challenging to achieve with such dilute reagents.

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“…In chemical technology development, prospective sustainability assessment , is applied to refute or substantiate claims about potential benefits over conventional benchmarks, to identify hotspots for further development, and to gain insights into long-term future scenarios . Sustainability can be quantitatively assessed by applying tools such as life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic assessment (TEA).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrated Life Cycle and Techno-Economic Assessment of Micellar Solvent Systems in Bulk Fine Chemical Production

Wunderlich,

Buchner,

Schwarze

et al. 2023

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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Micellar solvent systems (MSS) employing water, surfactant, and an organic solvent can be exploited to recycle homogeneous catalysts. This paper presents a first integrated life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic assessment (TEA) selecting a three-step synthesis of the fungicide Boscalid as a case study for bulk fine chemicals. Scale-up models of the midtechnology-readiness-level synthesis in an MSS and its conventional benchmark system (BMS) are presented and compared, assuming a 1 kt/a production capacity at the US Gulf Coast in the reference year 2019. All LCA indicators of the MSS indicate lower impacts, e.g., −8% global warming potential (MSS: 47 kg CO 2 equiv/kg, BMS: 51 kg CO 2 equiv/kg) or −44% metal depletion potential, the latter benefiting from homogeneous catalyst reuse. The educts are the main contributors to most impact categories. In the base case, cost and profitability indicators reveal economic challenges for the MSS (levelized cost of goods sold: MSS: 29.06 $/kg; BMS: 27.46 $/kg). Scenarios with higher reactant concentrations or lower hydrogenation catalyst amounts suggest feasible measures to achieve economic competitiveness. This study finds potential for MSS at an industrial scale.

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Exploring the photocatalytic total oxidation of methane through the lens of a prospective LCA

Cited by 3 publications

References 71 publications

Photocatalytic Conversion of Methane: Current State of the Art, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Photocatalytic Conversion of Methane: Current State of the Art, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Cost modeling of photocatalytic decomposition of atmospheric methane and nitrous oxide

Integrated Life Cycle and Techno-Economic Assessment of Micellar Solvent Systems in Bulk Fine Chemical Production

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